A nice gesture: David Goffin’s opponent flies to the aid of the Liégeois after a fall (video)
David Goffin qualified for the quarter-finals of the Auckland ATP 250 tennis tournament, a $642,735 hard-court event on Wednesday in New Zealand. The Liégeois, 53rd player in the world, won 6-2, 6-4 against the American Christopher Eubanks (ATP 153), from the qualifications. The meeting lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Goffin had a little scare in the third game: after a slip, he remained on the ground for a few moments. The match was then interrupted due to rain and moved to an indoor court. Note the nice gesture of his opponent, who came to help him immediately after his fall. On the restart, the Liégeois had to save three break points at 1-2. After a long fifth game, which he won on his fourth break point, he began to unfold, offering himself the first set 6-2. In the second set, he fended off two break point balls at 2-1.
He took his opponent’s serve in the next game. This break was enough to lead him to victory. Goffin will face for a place in the last four the French Richard Gasquet (ATP 67), winner 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 of the Portuguese Joao Sousa (ATP 82). This will be the sixth meeting between the two players. Goffin leads 3-2. David Goffin had lost his first two matches of the year, during the United Cup, a new tennis tournament for mixed teams.
The Belgian N.1 had been beaten by the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. He had signed his first success in 2023 by leaving 6-3, 6-4 the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (ATP 37), 5th seed of the tournament, on Monday. This is only the second time, and the first since 2013, that David Goffin is playing the Auckland tournament again in preparation for the Australian Open. The first Grand Slam tournament will begin on Monday in Melbourne.